![project m cobalt legacy sd project m cobalt legacy sd](https://i.imgur.com/l638yxA.png)
Being a Veteran has given me the valuable insight of working under pressure and doing whatever is necessary to complete the mission, which I feel gives me an edge in my educational pursuit. I am truly blessed to have had the support of the Cobell Scholarship.
![project m cobalt legacy sd project m cobalt legacy sd](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HWgnqqqwhZ4/maxresdefault.jpg)
I honestly do not think I would have been able to make it to my master’s program if it were not for the Cobell Scholarship. Pursuing an education is no easy task, especially if you want to pursue your education while staying near your reservation. I appreciate what the Cobell Scholarship does for Native people. Tell our people to take it.” At the time, I never knew the value ofĮducation, but I have grown to see the beauty, the dangers, and the freedoms it possesses. I remember growing up and hearing the phrase, as well as singing the song in elementary school, quoted by Chief Manuelito, “My grandchildren, education is the ladder. Since then, I have dedicated my life to helping others battle their addictions as a Substance Abuse Counselor. I was finally able to overcome my challenges in 2014 when I got clean and sober through the help of faith-based groups. However, I still found myself battling the same addictions I left the reservation for, and there was more that came from my time in service. The military was my hope of discovering discipline and the warrior spirit. As a troubled youth, I dropped out of high school at 16 years old and was fortunate enough to get my GED, which led to me joining the military at 17 years old. First and foremost, there were many parts of my life that were unsuccessful and challenging, which is a common disparity for most Native populations who live on Indian Reservations. I returned to the Navajo Nation in 2010 and have set my mind on staying near my homeland. I served in the Army for 4 years, deploying to Northern Iraq with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment from 2007 to 2009. I am from the Four Corners area of the Navajo Nation, and I resided there until I was 17 years old when I joined the US Army as an Armor Crewman (19Kilo) in 2006. I am Naakai Dine’e (Mexican clan), born for Bit’ahnii (Folded Arms clan).